Windows XP Blue Screen

[dewmuw]

OK I'm panicking now! All my photos are stored on my HD (thankfully I did a backup a week ago - but still worries me) and I cannot get my system to run. I get as far as the windows jingle and then get a blue screen and a message saying "Windows has encountered a problem and has shut down ....... all your precious files have been erased, they are unretrievable and your friends hate you too" (OK I made the last bit up)

I've read that this error is usually due to new hardware or software problems. I haven't had any installed recently. I did start a Norton defrag but the system died halfway through.

Any help from you technically minded people out there? My tech knowledge is about 3 out of 10 so please speak very slowly!

[defordphoto]

As your computer boots up (after the BIOS screen) press F8 and boot into SAFE mode. If you can do that, you're probably okay. Otherwise it'll get a bit more complicated.

[dewmuw]

As your computer boots up (after the BIOS screen) press F8 and boot into SAFE mode. If you can do that, you're probably okay. Otherwise it'll get a bit more complicated.

Now you are scaring me! :evil:

What should I do if SAFE mode works?

[defordphoto]

Just let it boot and then exit as normal. Usually it will fix itself. Usually. If none of that works, find someone that know more than you and let them try fixing it. Worst case scenarios are:

Reinstall XP - No format - Data okay
Hook your drive to another computer to attempt to retrieve data before reformatting
Drive is dead. All data lost

[defordphoto]

I did start a Norton defrag but the system died halfway through.

Oh...I missed that line. See if Norton has some ideas. Do you have a disaster recovery disk or a floppy boot disk?

[lomond]

Hi, Damian.
If you can boot into safe mode, try a sytem restore from a last known good set up.

Apologies if you have tried this or if it is too obvious.

[dewmuw]

Thanks Jim and Cameron, I can see I have a tense evening ahead of me........

[cmM]

if you can't get windows to boot up, your best shot is taking the hard drive out and putting into another computer as a slave, see if the data is accessible.

[dewmuw]

if you can't get windows to boot up, your best shot is taking the hard drive out and putting into another computer as a slave, see if the data is accessible.

Thanks for the tip.

I now know that the pics are all safe on my back-up external hard drive! So it is just my system I have to fix now!

[lomond]

The most important thing is don't panic, as cpl. Jones might say.
If you have a second PC at home then use it to get help from the net ( as you are doing now).
cmM makes a good suggestion if the obvious doesn't work.
I had a similar problem on a laptop, belonging to my wife, and system restore solved the problem.
I found a nice libation also helped.

Worst case scenario, at least you've backed up.

[dewmuw]

Thanks Cameron - I've got a bottle of Bowmore that needs some attention! :)

[lomond]

Thanks Cameron - I've got a bottle of Bowmore that needs some attention! :)

I almost envy your situation. :?

[dewmuw]

I almost envy your situation. :?

I've got a bottle of Glen Moray to start on too! Maybe after the PC is fixed though! :)

[lomond]

Just show the PC a bottle of Lagavulin and all will be well. :D

[dewmuw]

Just show the PC a bottle of Lagavulin and all will be well. :D

I think too much malt was probably the start of this problem! :)

[jukas]

System Restore to a few days ago at a known good point is probably your best option, it's unlikely that your HDD went tits up, something in your OS probably got corrupted.

If you have Norton see if you have Norton Ghost. I use this to make a OS Image when I initially get any new comp up and running the way I want it with my base software installed.. that way if the OS gets pooched I can just restore from the image and be happy.

If you can get online on another machine and want help in real time feel free to AIM me (PM me for contact details), I'll be online for another 7 hours here.

[lomond]

JHC.
Where else can you get this kind of sevice. :shock:

[scottbergerphoto]

The BSOD sucks!
If you can't access your computer via Safe Mode, have you tried booting your computer up using the Windows XP disc and trying to reinstall XP over itself? In addition, can't you use the backup you did recently? With my backup software, Retrospect Express, you reformat the HDD, reinstall Windows and the Retrospect Express software, and then restore the HDD back to where it was when you backed it up.
Good luck!

[JZaun]

Go here for windows blus screen error trouble shooting. Look for stop codes.
http://aumha.org/win5/a/shtdwnxp.htm
JZ

[mdm]

If you have a additional hard drive load windows on that. Use that as master, then hook up other hard drive as slave. Your data is most likely still there. Then burn data or transfer and remove spare hard drive and format original hard drive. Remember the hard drive your using as a temp doesn't have to be big. I think a gig or 2. The main thing is take your time and one of these solutions is bound to work.

[cfcRebel]

Don't tell me u use a Maxtor HD! :-O

Just j/k. :D

I have had two bad experience with Maxtor HD, one in a friend's computer, another one in my sister's computer.

[Avalonthas]

Man that sux, ive had XP since the very first day it was released and ive never had a blue screen. The good old days of Windows 98 and hundreds of blue screens in its lifetime is behind me :p

Hope u can fix ur computer

[mdm]

Lets us know if any of these things work.

[Citizensmith]

Remember the hard drive your using as a temp doesn't have to be big. I think a gig or 2.

But where would you actually find a 2 gig HDD? I'm not sure I've even got one that small in the junk piles in my garage. :)

[dewmuw]

Thanks for all the tips and advice.

Well I spent all Saturday evening and Sunday evening working on this problem. Can't get to re-instally XP as I keep getting the blue screen. :( Not always at the same point though.

Finally managed to run the Dell Diagnostic disk and came up with the following error codes:

2F2F:0BIC
2F2F:0119
2F58:042A
5800:0428
2F00:0B1C

I have to say that it means nothing to me!?!? But I am sending the codes to Dell and hoping for some help. Strangely after I ran the diagnostic I was able to boot windows!

So how was your weekend! :D

[Moppie]

Please let us know how this turns out, a mates PC sounds like its done the samething, and he may ask me to look at it :)

Have you tried plugging those error codes into google?

[dewmuw]

Still trying to find a solution. Got some advice from Dell and will try that tonight.

I'm going back to film!!!

[mdm]

I do have a couple of 1.2 gig hard drives. Garage sales in the area and out on the curb. I found a couple p3 computers w/o hard drives with mem and case. Great for the kids. He doesn't need to load a bunch of crapppp on it, just windows. When he gets done he can run over it with his car. Dewmuw if you have mom and pop computer stores around, they may have one.

[dewmuw]

OK - here we go!! I spent the entire evening last night working on this.

I booted via CD and ran a CHKDSk /R.
The was able to get into XP using safe mode - the first time in 4 days!!
I then uninstalled all the drivers for hardware I have attached and unplugged everything other than the keyboard and the mouse.
Then work through a process of re-installing all the hardware and rebooting after each piece of equipment was installed.
Finally got back to a point were I was 10 days ago and (touch wood) all seems to be working!

I also noticed that my scanner USB connection had become unplugged and wondered if that was causing a conflict of some sort.

I tell you what though - I'm glad microsoft don't make cars or we'd all be stuck at home everyday trying to figure out if it was the wheels or the seats that were causing a hardware conflict!

[mdm]

Good going Dewmuw!

[dewmuw]

Thanks - keeps your fingers crossed! :)